Vehicle prompts military warning
Rollovers involving trucks result in 5 deaths.
Vehicle prompts military warning
Published: July 25, 2008
WASHINGTON — The towering trucks that give U.S. troops the best protection against roadside bombs and enemy bullets also make them vulnerable to routine hazards like sharp turns, rutted roads and rickety bridges.
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BY THE NUMBERS
66
The number of MRAP-related accidents between November and June, according to Defense Department statistics.
40
Approximate number of MRAP-related accidents that involved a rollover caused by bad roads, weak bridges or driver error.
Why the trucks are at risk
"Road shoulders in the Middle East do not meet U.S. standards and may collapse under the weight of the MRAP, especially when the road is above grade and can fall to lower ground,” the Marine Corps newsletter cautions.
The trucks are tall, heavy, have a raised chassis and V-shaped hulls. The high-rise design shoves the impact of an underbelly blast out and away from the crew inside. The weight keeps the vehicle from being tossed into the air. But the lifesaving geometry has a cost.
"What you're giving up when you do that is the low center of gravity that provides you the sure-footedness,” said Brig. Gen. Michael Brogan, the Marine Corps officer who manages the MRAP program.
Related Topics:
Science and Technology, Technology, War and Conflict, U.S. Armed Forces Activities, Armed Forces, U.S. Marines Activities, U.S. Army Activities, Military Technology, Afghanistan War


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